2008 BUDGET STATEMENT
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA
NOVEMBER 14, 2007

The Springfield Township Board of Commissioners proposes a balanced operating budget for 2008 of $17,644,566 with a real estate tax rate of 3.370 mills and an earned income tax rate of 1.0 percent.

2008 REAL ESTATE TAX RATE

General Purpose Tax (max. 30 mills)	3.370 mills
Court Approved (max. 5 mills)	0 mills
Special Purpose Taxes	0 mills
	3.370 mills

To summarize the impact on the “typical” taxpayer as a result of the 2008 budget projections, the taxpayer will realize no net change to the combined real estate tax and service fees. The 2008 budget proposes to maintain the real estate tax rate of 3.370 mills identical to 2007. The refuse service fee will be reduced by $6.36, while the sanitary sewer rental will be increased by an average of $6.36 per household.

The “typical” household in Springfield Township with a $175,400 property assessment will pay $591.10 in real estate taxes in 2008, the same as in 2007. The 2008 township budget was decreased by $46,527 or .2% from 2007. The changes to the budget are due to increases in salaries, insurance, and benefits, and the use of capital reserve funds for the purchase of equipment and special projects. The budget continues to reflect two significant projects intended to relieve flooding along the Sunnybrook Creek, and the 300 blocks of Oreland Mill Road and Lorraine Avenue. Residents will continue to pay for sanitary sewer service and refuse collection and disposal, through separate fees.

The City of Philadelphia does project an increase of sanitary sewer conveyance fees in 2008. Individual sewer rates to the Springfield Township residents will reflect modest increases in local expenses, and increased conveyancing costs. The conveyancing fees are the single most determining factor in the sanitary sewer rental fee. The “average” user may see a $6.36 increase in their total sanitary sewer rental invoice. The discounted sanitary sewer rental rate for each 1,000 gallons of wastewater treated is set at $2.93, an increase of forty-one cents ($.41) per 1,000 gallons treated.

The 2007 discounted refuse service fee was $211.89 and is proposed to be reduced to $205.53 in 2008. The tipping fee charged by the Eastern Montgomery County Waste System Authority is to be decreased by $3.00 per ton and estimated at $67.00 per ton. The decrease in tipping fees, coupled with a reduction in costs to market the recycled materials, relatively static local operational costs, and capital equipment costs, will result in a 3.0% reduction to the 2008 refuse service fee.

The Township will continue to fund its general budgetary obligations through traditional revenue sources such as the Real Estate Tax, Earned Income Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Mercantile and Business Privilege Taxes, Licenses and Permits, Fines and Departmental Earnings.

The proposed 2008 budget will be available for inspection in the Office of the Township Manager and the Township Library beginning 12:00 Noon on November 16, 2007. Summary copies of the Budget are available upon request. The Board of Commissioners will accept questions and comments on the Budget at special public meetings held for this purpose on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 8:00 PM; and again on Wednesday, December 19, 2007, at 8:00 PM.